for many, the holiday season is a time for counting blessings and remembering those lost. Now, the story of a wife and mother who looked ahead in her last days, planning a family christmas gift that they and many of us will never forget. Here's abc's john donvan. Reporter: It is a christmas wish letter unlike any ever written, probably, because the woman who typed it up more than two years ago, brenda schmitz, died soon afterwards of cancer. Yet the wish she made in it came to life only last week. When david, the sband she left behind, unaware the letter existed, was asked to drop by des moines radio station star 102.5. You lost your wife brenda a couple years ago to cancer. Reporter: And first they talked a bit about brenda and david could barely get through it. She was very strong. Um -- accepted -- what happened to her. Reporter: And then they told him about the letter, which they had only recently received. Anonymously. And they read brenda's worlds aloud to him. I am writing this letter to have sent to you by a dear friend who has instructions to do so when it was the time. Reporter: And why was it time? Because david, who had been raising three boys with brenda, including a 2-year-old named max. What a great husband and father he is. Reporter: Because david had only recently been engaged to remarry, to jane abraham, joining two families. And back in 2011, when brenda was dying, she had foreseen this day and asked a close friend to mail off her letter to the radio station only once david had found new love. She must be quite a lady and I wish I could have met to take on the task of raising a larger, extended family. Reporter: And it was brenda's wish to send gifts through the station's christmas wish program. Among them, a day spa for her kids' new mom. She deserves it. Being a step-mother to all those boys and especially giving little max a mother's love that only she can give. Reporter: Brenda, back for this christmas, in some ways, never gone. John donvan, abc news, washington.

This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.

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